Richard Holden: The Stockton South Test – and four others for Starmer, as the run-in for next week’s elections gathers pace

Will it be: Keir On Course, So-So Starmer…or a Knightmare for the Labour Party in Hartlepool – and elsewhere?

Houchen has won a freeport for Teesside. Will the voters reward him?

Voters who felt taken for granted by Labour, have a Conservative Mayor fighting hard on their behalf.

Richard Holden: This spring’s local elections. For levelling-up to work, we need local councils and leaders who back it.

The sad truth is that many local Labour councils and local bureaucracies don’t want it: they’re scared of it.

The Budget. Sunak’s strong message that operation “level up” is under way.

The Government got “Brexit done” – and now wants to deliver on its pledge to spread “opportunity across the whole United Kingdom”.

Jonathan Werran: The Union and the English question. The answer is to let a hundred localist flowers bloom

The first in a five-part ConHome series this week on the future of the United Kingdom.

Dean Godson: It’s easier for the right to move left on economics than for the left to move right on culture. That’s a plus for Johnson.

The sixth piece in a ConHome series this week on the Prime Minister’s Reset Moment – and what should follow from it.

The wind of Biden’s change is blowing through Johnson’s Government

America’s result is having knock-on effects in Downing Street: see yesterday’s green speech and today’s defence news.

Brave New World

We fear the worst after Cummings’ departure, but Johnson must now make the best of it. That means a Cabinet shuffle.

Ben Houchen: The North Sea must be at the heart of Britain’s net zero revolution

By offering strategic support to new industries, the Government can honour its promise to ‘level up’ the nation and turn the UK into a global leader.

Guy Opperman: We are making your pension safer, better and greener. Here’s how.

Our new Pensions Bill will cracking down on bad pension bosses, utilising new technology to put the consumer in charge, and help us get to Net Zero.

Shaun Bailey: We can’t let London grind to a halt

Failure is not inevitable. Elsewhere, effective transport networks are being delivered. We need that in our capital.

Andrew Carter: Devolving responsibilities to our town halls must also mean devolving money

We should be asking ourselves what we want from local government in the future, particularly in light of the Covid-19 crisis.

Richard Holden: A call to CCHQ. Spare no effort to help us consolidate our breakthrough in the North East during next year’s elections.

I’ve noticed in my constituency that, to parts of the community, I am a disruption to the local natural order.

Richard Holden: Local elections 1) Will more bricks fall from the Red Wall this May?

Bury, the West Midlands, Dudley and perhaps the Durham PCC polls are well worth keeping an eye on.

Izzi Seccombe: Our councillors have reason to feel upbeat again after this week in Manchester

There was a really good vibe at Party Conference – especially at lots of outstanding fringe events discussing how to give local communities greater powers.